Semi-live debate-blogging, the "Joe the Plumber" edition

-The moderator is the only living man older than McCain. This can't hurt the Republican.

-Maybe McCain doesn't want to keep mentioning elderly, ill members of the political establishment (Ted Kennedy, now Nancy Reagan).

-Did Obama dye part of his hair gray? If so, it's super convincing.

-Yes! An anecdote about a plumber named Joe! Six-pack alert! Whee! "Joe the plumber." Awesome.

-Obama also calls him "Joe the plumber." If I were Joe I'd be maybe a little miffed.

-OMG more "Joe the plumber," now from McCain. ARGH.

-"During the Depression era" is not how McCain should begin a sentence. It's not ageism. It's Palinphobia.

-Nodded off there for a bit. (Me, not McCain.)

-Hmm, never a good idea to defend far-right mobs-gone-wild. Defending Republicans, that's reasonable. Defending what might well be the lead up to a political assassination, less so.

-OK, this Ayers stuff can't continue without bringing up Palin's ties to Alaskan-independence loonies. Anything, or is Obama too classy?

-So far, too classy.

-So very classy. I would not have been able to remain composed during McCain calling Palin a "bref of thresh" air.

-Nononono Obama, don't be too classy to take down Palin!

-I want in on this Canadian oil. I thought they only did syrup. Have I mentioned I'm in the humanities?

-Is this him? (Sorry, got distracted.)

-Uh oh, what if Obama just overestimated how old some working-class women he shook hands with were? 50-something, or just not as Botoxed as the coastal elites he's used to?

-Mmm, interesting. In other news, I think McCain just advocated gym class.

-NOOOOO say it ain't so, Joe the Plumber! Is he like the only person whose vote counts in this election? So much for the Florida elderly.

-Too cute! I might have to become a vegetarian. Not that I've ever eaten goat, but still. In other news, I'd rather not have my health care benefits taxed.

-Let Joe be! This is just too much responsibility for one man, being Mr. Folksy America all on his own.

-I think Senator Government might want Obama to Jew the job. But I wasn't totally listening. McCain may have saved each of these syllables in time.

-Hmm, smashmortion time.

-Does "ideology," pronounced "idiology," mean that McCain thinks Ruth Bader Ginsburg is not that bright?

-"We have to change the culture of America." Because the last eight years, the president of this country was a Democrat, right?

-There's a "pro-abortion movement"? Really?

-Now, edumacation. Our math and science education is not up to par? Is that why there's a damn ferner scientist sitting right next to me at this very moment?

-Obama, pro-college elitist. The nerve.

-Obama just told parents to "turn off the television." Is this a sign that the X-rated portion of the debate is about to commence?

-Uhoh, McCain is also pro-college. What about plumbing school? Joe will not be pleased.